Key recommendations
- Spider-Man adaptations create diverse and complex versions of the protagonist and his villains with unique storylines.
- Antagonists like the Lizard, the Prowler, and the Sandman bring complexity and depth to the Spider-Man films.
- Villains like Mysterio, Spider-Man 2099, the Vulture, and the Kingpin add nuanced layers, depth, and impact to the hero's narrative.
Spiderman is one of the most popular superheroes with a multitude of incredible adaptations, from movies to TV shows to video games. The story of a boy bitten by a radioactive spider that gives him superpowers comes in many variations, each with its own version of the charming narrative. In particular, the films created complex iterations of the web-headed hero, each with their own individual stories. Each adaptation brings a new perspective on the character and his context.
At the same time, other characters change along with the protagonist in different films, including different iterations of Spider-Man's antagonists. While some villains are known for being complex, others are just plain bad. The Spiderman Movies have brought some incredible villains to life through different franchises, each with their own flair, complexity and devastating nature.
10 Lizard
He never unleashed his comic book potential
- Real Identity: Dr. Curtis Connor
- Goal: To turn everyone into giant lizards as a way to rid the world of disease and deformity.
- Movies: The Amazing Spider-Man and Spider-Man: No Way Home
This take on the villain has his share of flaws, but he's the main antagonist The Amazing Spider-Man, THE Lizard was able to bring a fun but disgusting challenge. His animal instincts, personal connection to Peter, and benevolent goal of curing disease make him a complex enough threat to make this story fun.
Although it felt like the villain never reached his potential in the comics, he was responsible for one of the saddest deaths in the Spider-Man films. Finally, he was a solid villain in a movie that left a lot to be desired.
9 Prowler
A secondary villain with a redemption arc
- Real Identity: Aaron Davis
- Purpose: The Kingpin's minion responsible for finding Spider-Man.
- Movies: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Prowler is a terrifying secondary villain in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, a ruthless mercenary willing to do anything to get his money. Turning to the criminal world at a young age, Aaron Davis becomes the Prowler and is one of the antagonists after Spider-Man.
Although he has redemption once he learns that Miles is Spider-Man, he still managed to do quite a bit of damage beforehand. As Miles' uncle, he is a complex antagonist who has personal ties to the hero, but is not the main villain of the film. Instead, he serves as a schoolboy who changes his mind before dying.
8 The sandman
An empathetic antagonist in a movie full of underdeveloped villains
- Real Identity: Flint Marko
- Purpose: Steal money to save his sick daughter.
- Movies: Spider-Man 3 and Spider-Man: No Way Home
while Spider-Man 3 is one of the most polarizing Marvel movies, it still managed to bring in a good villain among other less developed antagonists. Flint Marko was a victim of desperation as a father trying to pay for his daughter's medical treatments.
Accidentally encountering an experiment, Marko becomes The sandmanand he decides to use his powers to try and get the funds he so desperately needs. As the best villain in Spider-Man 3it's hard not to feel bad for Marko, especially knowing his motivations. However, it never got the attention it deserved, even during its resurgence in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
7 The place
A villain turned multiverse threat
- Real Identity: Dr. Jonathan Ohnn
- Goal: To prove a worthy villain in a vendetta against Miles.
- Movies: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
When the Place first appears in Over the Spider verseMiles doesn't take him seriously. However, the maddened antagonist is a scientist turned supervillain after being transformed into Spot during the events of In the spider verse.
By the end of the film, Spot shows just how scary he can be, setting out to wreak havoc across the multiverse. With just a glimpse of how powerful Spot really is, this villain could rank even higher in the future based on his role in the third Spider-Verse movie.
6 Mysterio
A cunning villain who did a lot of damage
- Real identity: Quentin Beck
- Purpose: Claim and revenge after being humiliated by Tony Stark.
- Movies: Spider-Man: Far From Home
Mysterio is known as one of Spider-Man's worst villains, and Jake Gyllenhaal's portrayal of the villain brought a layer of deceit that makes him feel a different kind of dangerous. Tricking Peter Parker into trusting him, Mysterio pretends to be a father figure to Spider-Man after Tony Stark's death, but only does so to gain access to the hero's technology.
His lens may not be polished as he seeks revenge and vindication after Tony Stark humiliates him. However, this version of Mysterio does quite a bit of damage to Spider-Man, including revealing his true identity.
5 Spider-Man 2099
A unique yet complex antagonist
- Real identity: Miguel O'Hara
- Purpose: Keep the multiverse intact by protecting canonical events, even if it means letting people die.
- Movies: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Although not a villain in the usual sense, Miguel is the main antagonist Over the spider-verse, while trying to stop Miles from returning to his universe. Pretending to do it for the right reasons, Spider-Man 2099 he heads the Spider Society, putting himself in charge of protecting the multiverse and its canonical events.
As Miles tries to disrupt Miguel's idea of order to save his father, the antagonist sets Miles up on the entire Spider-Society. From what has been seen of him so far, his actions do not make him evil. Rather, Miguel is a driven, single-minded antagonist with the potential to do either great good or great evil.
4 Vulture
A likable and nuanced Nemesis
- Real Identity: Adrien Toomes
- Purpose: Trying to help his family by committing crimes.
- Movies: Spider-Man: Homecoming
Starring Michael Keaton as this iconic villain, Spider-Man: Homecoming presents a sympathetic version of Vulture like a hardworking guy who has suffered too many times. After losing his business to Tony Stark, he becomes resentful and sets out to make things right, even if it means doing the wrong thing.
The fact that Peter is dating the daughter of his archenemy makes this relationship even more interesting. The antagonist has some respect for the hero despite still believing that he is right. A great performance and a respectable villain make Vulture one of the best parts of this movie.
3 Kingpin
A terrifying and tortured iteration of a powerful villain
- Real Identity: Wilson Fisk
- Goal: Destroy the multiverse to resurrect his wife and son.
- Movies: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Kingpin is an iconic and powerful villain in the comics. Iteration of in Into the Spider-Verse is a faithful one, proving to be a great adversary to Miles. Despite being a crime lord and influencing a lot of other villains, he still manages to be likable as his goal is to resurrect his wife and son.
Because of the desperation of losing his family, Kingpin walks the line between relatable and terrifying. He kills Peter Parker with his bare hands and almost beats Miles and his friends.
2 The Green Goblin
An evil and chaotic force
- Real Identity: Norman Osborn
- Goal: Wreak havoc, regain control of his company, and defeat Spider-Man.
- Movies: Spiderman and Spider-Man: No Way Home
Probably the scariest villain on the list, The Green Goblin it just feels bad at points. Norman Osborn's alter ego takes control and unleashes evil through Willen Dafoe's masterful portrayal of the character. The villain seems to want mayhem above all else, even testing the length of Spider-Man's morality, forcing the hero to choose between saving his love or a bunch of kids.
After discovering the hero's identity, this villain goes above and beyond, tormenting him through Mary Jane and even poor Aunt May. He continues to do so in the epic Spider-Man crossover, being the one responsible for killing Tom Holland's aunt May and making the hero tap deeper into his dark side.
1 Dr. Octopus (Dock Ock)
A tragic story with a redemptive ending
- Real identity: Dr. Otto Octavius
- Goal: Complete his life's work to create a renewable energy source.
- Movies: Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man: No Way Home
As one of the best Spider-Man villains of all time, Dr. Octopus he's great in almost every iteration of the character, especially in Spider-Man 2. The scientist-turned-villain is one of the things that makes the second part of Raimi's trilogy so beloved. As Peter's mentor and a good man at heart, the audience can't help but cheer him on.
Alfred Molina's portrayal of the character makes him charming at some points and menacing at others. As a scientist, he aims to do good in the world, but becomes a victim of his own experiment. Dr. Otto Octavius is a layered antagonist who has more nuance than many other comic book villains. In the end, Dr. Octopus redeems himself by giving his life to undo his evil actions and later becomes a true hero in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
